Town Squares

Enjoy the local flavor of Tennessee’s distinctly different town squares, where you have the best blend of rich history, remarkable architecture and smart shopping.

Tennessee’s first town, Jonesborough, harbors great stories and imaginative shopping. With artfully landscaped, well-preserved noble buildings, the downtown area creates a panoramic backdrop for great shopping and dining experiences. Art and antique galleries, gourmet food, fashion and pet boutiques, and many other delightful retail locations make Jonesborough a shopping retreat. Take home Appalachian crafts, art glass and jewelry from local artisans, and unique, handcrafted gifts from around the world. If you “do it yourself,” find colorful art, craft, and quilt supplies among area offerings.

Find Fayetteville fascinating as you enjoy a main street tour of its historic downtown.

Bell Buckle, a railroad village of preserved and restored Victorian homes and churches, nestled among hills, farmland and Walking Horse country, is known for antiques, quilts, handmade crafts, country music, home cooking and the charming marketplace.

Meet locals on Centerville Square, and drop on into Breece’s Cafe for noteworthy fare. Here, you are in the locale of legendary Minnie Pearl’s self-created town, Grinder’s Switch. Centerville is home to Grinder’s Switch Center, Minnie Pearl’s memorabilia, recordings, artifacts and a gift shop.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Collierville’s town square is a mecca for shopping, dining & sightseeing. Boutiques, museums and restaurants welcome visitors year-round. Steeped in charm and rich in character, the square boasts unique shops, among them a number of national brand retailers.

Anderson County is brimming with antique, craft and other unique shops where you will discover decorative furniture and accents, quilts and other handmade crafts, collectibles and hard-to-find items. Two shopping districts, historic downtown Clinton and historic Jackson Square, provide a perfect backdrop to a leisurely shopping trip with historic buildings, quaint stores and delicious eateries.

Originally settled in 1871 by Irish immigrants who came to build the railroad, Erin has developed a two-mile walking trail along the abandoned railroad bed. The trail runs through the historic district, which includes Victorian homes and a railroad pavilion with outdoor tables. Come frequent Erin’s gift and craft shops.

Franklin, just outside of Nashville, espouses the quintessential genteel country life. Explore the beautifully preserved square and beyond in the company of Franklin on Foot, an over-the-top, multiple-choice way to commune with fascinating Franklin. Among the stops on the Classic Franklin tour are St. Paul’s Episcopal Church with treasured Tiffany windows and the antebellum courthouse. Stop by Main Street’s F. M. Allen menswear to stock up on what those in the know wear. Come hungry and take advantage of downtown dining at its best, among the crop: the Bunganut Pig, an English pub and eatery; Dotson’s, Southern meat ‘n’ three (Martha Stewart loves Dotson’s biscuits); Franklin Mercantile Deli and Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant, both local favs.

Tennessee town squares and city districts have the welcome mat out, just for you.